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DÉSIRÉ CHARNAY. La Prison, à Chichen-Itza

La Prison, à Chichen-Itza. Artist: Désiré Charnay (French, 1828-1915). Dimensions: Image: 33.3 x 42.4 cm (13 1/8 x 16 11/16 in.) Mount: 54 x 70.8 cm (21 1/4 x 27 7/8 in.). Date: 1857-89. Charnay was among the first to photograph Mexico's stunning Mayan ruins. The French archaeologist-adventurer gained considerable fame with the publication of his photographs and an account of his travels entitled Cités et ruines américaines: Mitla, Palenqué, Izamal, Chichen-Itza, Uxmal (1862-63). In this plate from the album, Charnay photographed a building he described as a "prison" emerging from the jungle at Chichén-Itzá. Built in the late eighth or ninth century, this temple building was constructed in a complex architectural style called Puuk and is today known as the Casa Colorada or Chichen Chob. Archaeologists are unsure of the structure's original function, but most today believe the building may have been an elite residence. Without the advantages of modern carbon dating and years of scholarly analysis, Charnay simply documented the overgrown site and endowed it with all the mystery and enchantment of one's childhood fantasy of lost paradise.
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Author:
DÉSIRÉ CHARNAY (1828-1915)
Title:
La Prison, à Chichen-Itza
Caption:
La Prison, à Chichen-Itza. Artist: Désiré Charnay (French, 1828-1915). Dimensions: Image: 33.3 x 42.4 cm (13 1/8 x 16 11/16 in.) Mount: 54 x 70.8 cm (21 1/4 x 27 7/8 in.). Date: 1857-89. Charnay was among the first to photograph Mexico's stunning Mayan ruins. The French archaeologist-adventurer gained considerable fame with the publication of his photographs and an account of his travels entitled Cités et ruines américaines: Mitla, Palenqué, Izamal, Chichen-Itza, Uxmal (1862-63). In this plate from the album, Charnay photographed a building he described as a "prison" emerging from the jungle at Chichén-Itzá. Built in the late eighth or ninth century, this temple building was constructed in a complex architectural style called Puuk and is today known as the Casa Colorada or Chichen Chob. Archaeologists are unsure of the structure's original function, but most today believe the building may have been an elite residence. Without the advantages of modern carbon dating and years of scholarly analysis, Charnay simply documented the overgrown site and endowed it with all the mystery and enchantment of one's childhood fantasy of lost paradise.
Technique/material:
Albumen silver print from glass negative
Museum:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Credit:
Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?
Image size:
4227 x 3308 px | 40.0 MB
Print size:
35.8 x 28.0 cm | 14.1 x 11.0 in (300 dpi)
Keywords:
ALBUMEN SILVER PRINT FROM GLASS NEGATIVE • ALBUMEN SILVER PRINTS • DÉSIRÉ CHARNAY • EUROPE • FRANCE • METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, USA • PHOTOGRAPHS